Joe Walsh was born and raised in North Barrington, Illinois, the fifth of nine children. He graduated from Barrington High School, attended Grinnell College (Iowa), and has a BA in English from the University of Iowa.

He has a Masters in Public Policy from the University of Chicago and has dedicated his life to service and limited government advocacy, working with such organizations as Jobs for Youth, The Heartland Institute, The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation, The Milton and Rose Friedman Foundation, and the American Education Reform Council. He has also taught American Government and American History at the Hebrew Theological College and at Oakton Community College.

Elected to the United States Congress in 2010, Joe refused his Congressional health benefits and pensions, slept in his office, limited himself to no more than three terms in office, and held more townhall meetings than any member of Congress.

He was one of the most outspoken and well known tea party members of Congress, becoming a lead advocate for the Balanced Budget Amendment, term limits, tax cuts, cutting off pay for members of Congress if they didn’t pass a budget, Second Amendment rights, and the State of Israel. He served on the Small Business Committee, the Committee on Homeland Security, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

He received the highest possible ratings on freedom and limited government from The Club for Growth, Freedom Works, and Heritage Action.

He lives in McHenry, Illinois, with his wife Helene. Between them, they have five children.